Accounting machine



Jan. 13, 1948. w. LEATHERS Er AL ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tms MoN-m DECODER LAST MONTH VERI FlER Ward Lenihan, Jrrzerfaddad.

Jan. 13, 1948. w. LEATHx-:Rs Er Al. 4 2,434,500

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 2s' DATA STOR ING DVICE |58 BIO @moss am saLzcTon lz RAT: snacon 516 Q nue BOARD INV ENTORS. Ward Leaf/Iers, eferrienffadala d.

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Accounmc ummm Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 JrrzerJzadda d.

Jan. 13, 1948. w. LEATHr-:Rs ET Ax. 2,434,500

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 VERIFIER: 278 277 UNITS TENS.

Th1-TAPE 65 l 7 0 ze? INVENTORS, Wardlcai'ens. Jerrz'erf/a dd'a al.

JUL 13 1948 LE'QATHRS Er AL 2.434.500

ACCOUNTING MAGHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 I DECODER @9 v mvEN'roRs. Wardleathem. .Jerrierjzddad ACCOUNTING MACHINE 15 sheets-sheet e Filed June 14, 1945 INVENTORS. I/l/ardleaher's, e/errl'erffaddad.

Il l lY Millll lllll PERFOPA'T'OR Jan. 13, 1948. w, LEATHERs-Er AL 2,434,500

Accoumme MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13" sheets-sheet '1 13 lo oo o IO O O O |60 YOUOOOOODOO l 00 O O IO OOO O lo o o '60 qoooooooooo y O l O O ATI GAS LLEG- BATE QAQ TJ'I. Y Lm, l I u/5' rc :Lea DAT! '56 Z. @22. [|54 ggf AVERAGE CLOSED Acc.A

o BILL l Acc. u@ A-2-oso Acc. m A32-ose A M /55 ME j INVENToRs. L Wardleai'ier, l 77 BY Jrrz'erffaddd JUL `13, 1948. -w. LEATHx-:Rs err Al. 2,434,500 ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORSZ uftdleazrs, Jerrzrladdad.

Jan. 13, 1948. w. LEATHr-:Rs Er AL 2,434,500

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 qAs ELscTmc oA-m sToR/NG Div/GA ru :L

HARG: nx ToTA 4,0 CHAR ma TAX TDTA Inn CHG. 62

INVENTORS. Ward Leathers. By efefJ'CrJ-a ddd d.

' ATTORNEY.

Jan. 13, 1948. w. LEATHERS Er AL 2,434,500

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 25a RATE' SELECTOR STOP LINE Jan. 13, 194s. w. LEATHERS Er A.. 2,434,500

lACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 14, 194s v 1s sheets-sheet 11- 259 STOP LINEv MEN-roles. I4/'ard .Zeaiheni BY eferrierdaddad.

Jn. 13,1948. w. LEATHERS ET ^L 2434500 ACCOUNTING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed June 14. 1945 Ward Leathers,

BY elezrl'ze4"l Haddad' ATTORNEY.

INVENTORS.

JUI- 13, 1948. w. LEATHEs Er A1. 2,434,500

ACCOUNTING IACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 INV ENTORS. Wmdlediert, BY da d.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 13, 11.948

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Ward Leathers, Brooklyn, and Jerrier Haddad, Ithaca, N. Y., assiznors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,420

4 claims. y(ci. 23S-61.8)

This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application, Serial No. 483,886, illed April 21, 1943, now Patent No. 2,393,386, for an Accounting machine.

The improved accounting machine comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with the joint billing of metered commodities, such as gas, electricity, water and the like, and has for its principal object the provision of a machine which will accurately and economically compute and record by means of perforations on a suitable record media, such as telegraphic tape, the necessary pertinent data for the joint billing of two or more of these commodities.

According to the present invention, where two or more public utility commodities are jointly billed under a single individual account, the primary data consisting of an account number, a rate character, and previous and present meter readings are recorded on telegraphic tape according to a selected code and forms the basis for computation of the billing data. This primary or initial data may be obtained by telemetric methods, such 8s are shown and described in 'United States patents to Ward Leathers, Nos.

2,283,070; 2,283,071; 2,285,819; 2,304,698 and 2,314,719, all of which relate to Meter reading apparatus, or it may be compounded each month from the hand written data in a meter readers account book.

The billing data for electricity may consist of the account number, the rate character, the present and previous months meter readings, the consumption during the billing period (i. e. the difference between the two readings), the fuel ad- Justment, which may be added to or subtracted from the charge, the tax which is derived from the sum of the charge and the fuel adjustment, and a total figure representing the total money sum to be paid for electricity. The billing data, for gas may be similarly set forth.

The billing data, of course, varies according to the individual requirements of the different utility companies in su'ch matters as, for example, gross and net amounts and other required figures. The present accounting machine has, for illustrative purposes, been shown in connection with the joint billing of gas and electricity and makes provision for recording the meter readings, both `as regards gas and electricity, for subtracting the later readings from the respective earlier .The consumption ligure thus attained is employed to select a predetermined money figure computed according to an established rate, as evidenced by the rate character of the primary data and the selection is made from a series of figures which are manually set into an electrical data storing device from which the required iigures may very rapidly be removed by electrical means. Other additional figures representing money values may also be set into the electrical data storing device and selected therefrom for computation purposes. The data lstoring device above referred to has been diagrammatically illustrated herein and reference may be had to a patent to Ward Leathers and Archibald Gold, No. 2,314,718, dated March 23, 1943, for Accounting apparatus. for a full disclosure thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the additional figures above referred to consist of fuel adjustment charges, tax charges and total charges, all of which are simple functions of the charge amount and which may be precomputed in any suitable manner and set into the data storing device. Since there are several billing rates or classifications for each utility, such as commercial gas, residential electricity, etc., the capacity of the data storing device must be suflicient to accommodate the storing `of the required information for eachof these rates.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of the rate character onthe'primary tapes, i. e. the perforated tape representing data for the current month or period and `the tape representing data for the previous month or period. This rate character is an integralpart of the meter readings and in the machineyit serves automatically to select the correct, portion of the data storing device to elicit the" proper data accordingv to the current rate.

Another feature of the invention resides in the use of a special character on the primary tapes whereby special circumstances frequently encountered in public utility accounting are accommodated. For example, if a consumer discontinues an account, or if a consumer opens an account during the billing period, a reading for that account is entered ron one of the primary tapes but not on the other. In order to keep the sequence of the account readings on the two tapes correct, a special notation must be made beforehand to inform the operator of the machine that the omission of a reading on one tape is proper and is not a mistake caused by negligence or otherwise. Onvthe other hand, if, within a billing period, an account is closed and then 3 reopened, readings will appear on both tapes. In this case, two separate bills are made out with the mid-billing period reading as a common reading. In other words, the common reading constitutes in effect last months billing for the new consumer and this months billing for the old consumer. In this case, a special type of card is employed by the operator to stop the sequence of operations temporarily at the proper time by insertion of the card into the machine at a time prior to the processing of the account.

A still further important feature ofthe invention is the verification of the two primary tapes to insure the fact that the data appearing thereon is related to only one account. According to the invention, if the two tapes do not verify, the machine will automatically stop. If the two tapes do verify with each other and also verify with the special card injected into the machine by the operator (signifying a closed and reopened account), the machine will automatically stop in spite of the first verification.

A further feature of the invention is the ability of the machine to compute billing data from any one of many different rates as automatically chosen by the rate character, which is part of the primary data and which differs according to the classications and conditions attached to the individual accounts.

Yet another feature of the invention is the ability of the machine to tabulate billing data properly where an account is concerned with onli1 one oi the two commodities, i. e. electricity or gas alone. In such an instance, when the billing data is tabulated on the billing tape, a special character is perforated in that portion of the tape relating to the commodity not employed. This is done to keep the relative positions of the various items on the tape correct ,and to thereby make automatic reading of the infomation possible 'Another feature or object of theA invention A the provision of a machine'whlch willautomatically stop its operation when'the data for a certain consumption of 'a commodity. is not posted in the data storing device. This condition, although extremely rare, may occur when the consumption is above thecapacity of the consumi tion data storing device or where an odd-norm' bered iigure'of consumption data occurs. Itis general practice in public utility accounting tobill for only even-numbered figures ot consumption A further object of the invention is, ina machine of thischaracterrthe provision of automatic means for advancing the two primary data bearing tapes through the machine for purposes. The tapes are advanced 'after allinformation needed from them is used and during that portion of the machine cycle when the data storing kdevice is being used. nthis manner no lostv motion or idle time if, encountered,

Still another object of the invention is theprovision of a master timing device which is motor driven and which initiates all automatic operations by controllingv the-opening and closing move ments of numerous pairs or electrical contacts in timed relationship with required machine functions. A related object is the provision of such a timing device which will permit of Vexceedingly fine adjustment, as faras timing operations are concerned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of electrical circuits which operate to insure continuity of operation of the machine during a complete accounting cycle, yet whichwill automativlli 4 cycle when the proper automatic signal is given v for the machine so to stop.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the machine will indicate the billing of a minimum charge by the substitution of a special character in lieu of the hundreds digit of the charge on the billing tape.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for indicating billings that are made by average readings when a meter reader is unable to enter a premise .and read the meters therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing false characters from being perforated on the billing tape.

The provision of a machine of this character, which is comprised of a minimum number of moving parts. such as relays, rotary timing devices and the like, and which consequently is un- 'likely to get out of order; one which, considering its usefulness, is not costly; one which is relatively simple in its operation and does not require highly skilled labor for its operation, and one which otherwise is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features that have been borne in mind in the production and development( of the present invention.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and'claims and illustrated in the accompanying thirteen` sheets o! drawings, which disclose, by way of example.

astrinortyuesi jobillingtape tape Ystripsoi'l'igs.3ani4.'l e Figisadiagrammatfeviewotatape verierempioyedinconneetimwlthtbem invention.

.'FigJissdiagramnitieviewofadeeoding. vieeempinedmeonneetsonwiththeinvention.

misadiagrunmattcviewsdhgdevuieenaheemployedincomecttm-withtheinven- Fia,9'isadiagrammaticviewofapeiforating device? employed for recording Wm.

Fig. l0isaplanview.partlyinsection, ofa

sensing device employed in connection with the o showing certain electromagnetic operating means therefor.

Fig. 13 is aBiagrammatic view of an electrical adapter for actuting the subtracting device of Fig. l2.

cally cause the machine to stop at the end of a 75 Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of an electrlcal transmitter employed in connection with the subtracting device.A

Fig. is a top plan view, partially diagrammatic in its representation, of the adding and subtracting device shown in Fig. 12. Y

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the data storing device showing the manner in which precomputed data is manually set up.

Fig, 17 is a perspective view of a data storing clip employed in connection with the data storing device. i

Fig. 18 is a schematic view of the data storing device.

Fig. 19 is a plan view Vof an accountv card adapted to be inserted in the machine when a new account is encountered. y

Fig. 20 is a plan view of a similar card adapted to be inserted in the machine for an account which is to be billed at a rate diierent from the usual rate.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of another card adapted to be inserted in the machine when an account is to be billed on an average reading basis.

Fig. 22 is a, plan view of another card employed in connection with a discontinued account.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary plan View of a cross bar selecting mechanism employed in connection with the data storing device.

Fig. 24 is a detailed, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the cross bar selecting mechanism of Fig. 23.

Fig, 25a is a diagrammatic View of a rate selector and level selector employed in connection with the cross bar selecting mechanism of Fig. 23. y Fig. 25h is a similar diagrammatic view and represents a continuation of Fig. 25a, and

Figs. 26a and 26o, taken together, and arranged in end-to-end alignment, represent the timing device of the machine throughout one complete machine cycle.

In all of the above described views like characters of reference are employed vto designate like parts throughout.

General description The invention is predicated upon the fact that a utility company may distribute both gas and electric service, billing for the `same simultaneously under a single account number for each customer. Accordingly, the primary information for calculating the billing data for both gas and electricity appears in the form of perforations on two strips of tape |50 and ISI, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, and hereinafter referred to as the primary data tapes, or simply as the primary tapes. The data appearing on thev tapes |50 and |5I may be obtained by a telemetric system of meter reading or it may be obtained by actual inspection of the meters in the usual manner of public utility accounting. Irrespective, however, of the manner in which the meter i reading data. is obtained, the essential features of the invention are at al1 times preserved. The

data appearing on the two primary tapes |50 and I5| is processed by the apparatus and a' third tape |52, shown in Fig. 5, hereinafter referred 7 telegraphic code, such as is shown in Fig. 2. They -codel employed herein. for illustrative purposes,

6 is ai'our line code with a capacity tor iifteen characters and a blank space. Only twelve of these characters are employed, however, ten to represent the digits 0 to 9 and two special characters for certain designated purposes which will be set forth subsequently..

The character G consists of a complete row of four perforations in the same index point position of the tape and is used for a dual purpose. The billing data tape |52 of Fig. 5 is, in the last analysis, the output data bearing media of the present accounting apparatus. It is adapted to be employed when removed from the machine to operatey a suitable bill printing mechanism. In such an instance the character operates to render the printing mechanism inoperative to print insignificant zeros appearing in money values. The character is not employed on either of the primary tapes and insignificant zeros appearing either on the primary tapes or on the billing data tape are perforated in the usual manner. As a consequence on the printed bill obtained by an extraneous processing of the billing data tape, these insignicant zeros are included. Thus an account number will read 065 or a consumption of 34 kw.hr. will appear as 0034, but a charge of $2.56 will appear on the tape as @2.56. This character operates to prevent these zeros from being printed on the consumers bill. The billing data tape is divided into successive accounts, each account comprising iifteen fields which, considered collectively, consume nity-three index point positions. Two spaces are left on the tape be tween consecutive adjacent accounts. Thus, if the spaces for insignificant zeros were omitted altogether, vthe `tapes could not be tabulated in their proper relative positions. If these spaces were left blank they would be mistaken for the blank spaces left between successive accounts and confusion would result in either case.

The character M is employed to identify a minimum charge. It is perforated on the billing tape |52 in place of the tens digit of a money figure and is followed by the perforation of the amount of the minimum charge. For example, if the minimum charge is ninety cents, the character M will be followed by the code representation 0.90 and the final printed bill will show M 0.90.

On each of the primary data tapes |50 and |5| a single account is represented by four fields involving twelve index point positions. The first character recorded is a complete iield in itself and may represent the rate at which the bill for that account should be computed. In the present instance, provision is made for four different rate combinations, each including a rate for gas and a rate for electricity.

'I'he next three characters constituting the second held may represent the individual account number. In the present instance, only three digits are employed to identify a, single account.

Each reel of primary data tape may, for convenience, contain a group -of one-thousand accounts.

The next four characters are employed to represent the gas meter reading. This reading is cumulative and a previous recording of a reading must be subtracted from it to get the proper consumption figure for a billing period on the billing tape |52.

'I'he last four characters are employed to repi resent the electric meter reading. This reading is likewise cumulative and a previous reading must be subtracted from it to sumption ilgure on the billing tape.

get the proper con- As previously stated, the data, which appears on the two primary tapes |50 and I5I is processed and the billing data tape |52 is perforated in accordance therewith. The billing tape |52 in its final form, includes all the data necessary for billing an account for the commodity or commodities consumed by the holder of diilerentyaccounts, this material occurring on the billing data tape in corresponding tabular positions. This data is the elementary data required for billing purposes by every account. If any special or extraneous data is required for billing, it will be derived from other sources, as for example, an additional tape (not shown) which may be called a special items tape. The name and address of an account holder must obviously be present on a bill. This information may be present on a preaddressed bill or it may be derived from an additional perforating tape termed a master tape. The billing data tape, the special items tape and the master tape mayV then be used for the printing of a complete billl by means of a telegraphic tape tabulating or printing machine. The present apparatus, however, pertains only to the preparation ofthe billing data tapesfmwn in Fig. v5.

Tape vcrication The billing data appearing on the tape |52 is recorded in sequential order along the tape and is initiated by the perforation of the three identifying numbers of the account in the first field of the tape. These identifying numbers are the same as the three identifying numbers appearing on each of the tapes lil and in the second fleld thereof. It is perforated in the first field of the tape |52, however, inasmuch as it must be verified on the tapes |55 and lit before anything may correctly or safely be perforated on the billing data tape.

tapes failto advance in unison and the relative positions ofthe tapes become misaligned, or if for any reason an account is dropped from, or added to, one of the tapes and not to the other so that the tapes are not at all times offering infonnation for the same account for computation, v

bers appearing in the second field of the tapes |50 and I5| agree with each other but do not agree with the account number appearing on the special card |54.

The operator of the machine must be informed of all special conditions associated with the primary data tapes. These conditions may be caused by a consumer opening an account or closing an account. Often one consumer will close an account and a different consumer open the same account within a billing period. Special bills must `be made out in each of these cases for the services oi the utility during the particular fractions of the billing periods. Such bills are not cared for by the apparatus in this embodiment of the invention.v These bills will be calculated and pre- 'Ihetapes l5! and |51 'areA advanced through the sensing unit, shown in Fig. Vl1, simultaneously. If for any reason these two j 8 pared manually by the bookkeeping department of the utility company. In such event, the lnformation on the primary data tapes relating to the special b-ills must be removed by the operator and forwarded to the bookkeeping department. The operator must also reestablish the positions of the primary data tapes in the machine so that they oder the very next account for processing. To do this, the operator may either copy down the necessary data appearing on the tapes for forwarding and thereafter advance the tapes to the beginning of the next account, or he may sever fragments of the tapes Iand remove the same from the machine for forwarding, thereafter resorting to a splicing operation to restore the tapes to their proper relative positions.

In cases where an account is closed during a billing period, a. card, exemplified by the card |55 in Fig; prepared andgiven to the 0perator. In cases wherean account is opened during a billing period, a card, exemplified by. the card |55 in Fig. 19, is prepared and given to the operator. The operator is thus informed of all outotthe-ordinary conditions of the primary l data tapes that are not due to errors in the compounding o! these tapes.

Therefore, when an account is closed during a billing period, there will be no reading on this months primary data tape to verify with the old reading. The machine will automatically stop, and the operator will check the account number on last months tape against a. closed accolmt card, similar to the card |55; take all infomation needed pertaining to that account from the tape and record it on the card, and finally advance lest month's tape until the following account is in position for processing. then resume operation.,

When an account is` opened during a billing period, there will be'no reading on last months primary data tape to verify with the new reading. The machine will automatically s top, and `the operatornwill check the account number on .this month's'tape 'with a new account card, similar to the card |54; take all information needed pertaining to that account from Vthe tape and -record it on the card; advance this months tape until thev following account is in position for procesing; replace the new account card just used withthe one that will next be used, and start the machine running automatically again. If an account is closed and then reopened during the same billing period, the machine will stop because the account number perforated on the new account card which is injected into the machine will verify with the account numbers on the two primary tapes. In such a case, the operator will check the account number against a closed account card and the new account card; take off all information needed and record same on the cards; advance both tapes until the following account is in position for processing; replace the new account card with the next new account card, and, finally, start automatic operation of the machine.

After the verification processes have been concluded, the account number, consisting of three digits, is automatically perforated on the billing data tape |52 in Fig. 5,

Rate characters The machine may invention, gas and electric charges may be taken fromv -either vresidentialy or commercial rates.

Thus, there arevfour combinationsv of two rates each for each account that has both gas and electric service. Each of the four combinations of rates-has its own rate character. Thus, for example. when an account has rate character one, lit will be .billed according to residential gas and residential electric rates. If the rate character is' two, it will be billed according to residential gas andl commercial electric rates. If the rate character is three, it will be billed according to commercial'gas and residential electric rates.

If the rate character is four, it will be billed according to commercial gas and commercial electric rates. .At the same time that the rate character is perforated on the billing tape |52, it sets up the rate selector shown in Fig. 25a. If the rate under which the account was billed last month is not the same as the rate to be used for the same account this month, the machine will automatically stop, as ywill be explained later. Insuch cases, the operator is informed of the changed-condition by a rate changev card, exemplified by the card |56, shown in Fig. 20. 'I'he operator records all pertinent information from the primary tapeson the rate change card; advances both primary tapes until the next account is in position for processing; puts the special character 8" on the billing tape in place of the regular billing information in order to retain tabular position, and then starts the machine running automatically again.

Gas billing The fifth, sixth, seventh" and eighth characters in the third field of the billing data tape are the four digits representing this months gas reading. Whiley these figures are being perforated on the billing tape, they are also injected into an electrically actuated subtracting machine |51, in Figs. 12 and 15,

The ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth characters in the fourth field of the billing data tape are the four digits representing last months gas reading. While these figures are being perforated on the billing tape, they also are automatically injected into the subtracting machine |51, shown in Figs. 12 and 15.

i Last months gas reading is then subtracted from this months gas reading by the subtracting machine |51. The remainder represents the consumption of gas in hundreds of cubic feet. The gas consumption is then perforated on the billing data tape as the thirteenth, fourteenth," fifteenth and "sixteenth characters in the fifth field thereof.

While the gas consumption is being perforated on the billing tape, it is also used to select a set of precalculated figures set into the data storing device |58 (see Fig. 1b). 'I'hese precalculated Vfigures are then perforated on th'e billing data tape. 'I'he first four figures represent the basic charge for the amount of gas consumed and the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth characters on the billing data tape representing the sixth field are reserved for this Electric billing The twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-first characters in the ninth field of the billing data tape represent this months electric reading. While these figures are being perforated on the billing tape, they are also injected into the subtracting machine |51 of Fig. 12.

The thirty-second, thirty-third, thirtyfourth and thirty-fifth characters in the tenth field of the billing tape represent last months electric reading. While these figures are being perforated on the billing tape, they are also injected into the subtracting machine |51 in Fig. l2.

Last months electric reading is then subtracted from this months electric reading by the subtracting machine |51. The remainder represents the consumption of electricity in kilowatt-hours. The electric consumption is then perforated on the billing tape in the eleventh field thereof as the thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh, thirtyeighth and "thirty-ninth characters.

While the electric consumption data is being perforated on the billing tape, it is also used to select a set of precaiculated figures set into the data storing device |58 of' Fig. lb. These prevalculated figures are then perforated on the billing tape. The first four of these figures represent the basic charge for the amount of electricity consumed, and are perforated in the twelfth field as the fortieth, forty-first, forty-second and "forty-third" characters on the billing tape. The next three figures represent the fuel adjustment charge and are perforated as the forty-fourth, forty-fifth, and "fortysixth characters in the thirteenth field of the billing tape. The next three .figures represent the tax to be charged on the adjusted basic charge and are perforated as the forty-seventh, fortyeighth and "forty-ninth characters in the fourteenth field of the billing tape. The last four figures represent the total amount to be charged for electricity and are perforated as the ftieth, fifty-first," fifty-second and fiftythird characters in the fifteenth or last field of the billing data tape.

The billing data tape is then advanced two spaces. These spaces serve to separate the billing data of adjacent or succeeding accounts.

After last months electric reading is injected into the subtracting machine |51, the two primary data tapes are no longer needed for any information pertaining to the account being processed. Therefore, while the pre-set figures are being removed from the data storing device, the two primary data tapes are advanced until the next account is in position for processing. This prevents lost motion and conserves the time needed by the machine to run through a complete cycle.

After the two primary tapes have been completely processed, last months primary tape may be disposed ofor filed for record purposes. This months tape must be used during the next billing period, however, and becomes last months tape at this time.

The tape sensing mechanism Referring now to Figsf'lO and 11, and also to v Fig. 1a, the sensing mechanism for the vtapes |50 and 5| is designated in its entirety at |45, |45. The two primary tapes |50 and |5| are each provided with a series of longitudinally 11 I extending, centrally arranged drive hole perforations |80, by means of which they are advanced through their respective sensing mechanisms |45 and |45' in side-by-side relationship. The sensing instrumentalities for each of the tapes I" and ill are substantially identical in construction and it is thought that a description of one of these sets of instrumentalities will sufnce for the other. Accordingly, similar characters of reference have been employed to designate the corresponding parts of the two sets of instrumentalities.

The sensing mechanism includes a stationary framework |14 in which the two sets of sensing instrumentalities are commonly housed. The sensing instrumentalities for the tape III include a rotatably mounted drive wheel iti, having drive pinsv |61 arranged in spaced relationship about the periphery thereof for registry with the perforations |60 in advancing the tape through the sensing mechanism. The drive wheel |4I is adapted to be periodicaly indexed by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism |62, |63, the operation of which is controlled by means of an electromagnet |64. It will be seen that upon energization of the magnet |84, the pawl |62 associated therewith will be retracted and upon deenergization of the magnet the pawl will perform its operative stroke under the influence of a spring |65, thus advancing the drive wheel |6| and causing the tape to be pulled through the sensing device.

Inasmuch as each account appearing on the primary tapes |50 and |5| comprises twelve index point positions, and inasmuch as there are two blank spaces between each account" on the tapes, provision must be made for periodically advancing the two tapes simultaneously through the sensing apparatus |45, |45', to the extent of fourteen index point positions at one tape -advancing operation during each machine cycle. Toward this end, energization of the electromagnet |64 is controlled by a pair of normally open timer-controller contacts 81 (see Fig. 1a) which may operate from the timer device to become momentarily closed fourteen times in succession during the proper portion of the machine cycle.

Still referring to Fig. l1, a plurality of metallic sensing pins |68 are located directly beneath each index point position of the tape |50, while a cooperating metallic bar |69 is located directly above each index point position in cooperating registry with one of the sensing pins |88. The bars |69 are set into an insulating block |10 rigidly supported in the framework |14 of the apparatus. Each individual sensing pin IBO is supported in an insulating block |1| in the form of a floating cradle which is normally urged upwardly by means of a pair of springs |13. Each sensing pin |68 is normally urged upwardly into engagement with its respective bar |89 by means of a spring |12. An electromagnet |15, suitably supported on the framework |14, is provided with a plunger y|16 pivotally secured to the cradle or block 1|, and upon energization of the magnet |15 the entire cradle is lowered in the framework |14 in order that the various pins |88 may Y clear the tape and permit the latter to be advanced through the senser.

The card sensing mechanism The card sensing mechanism is designated in its entirety at |45a in Fig. la, wherein it is shown in perspective. The card sensing mechanism |4la is adapted to receive and sense the various AIM 500 specialacooimtcardasuchastheeard |l4,representing a new account, as shown in H510, or vthe card |11, representing an average bill, as shown in F13. 2l. The sensing mechanism |484 is somewhat similar in its design and operation tothesensingunitswhichcooperatetomakeup the sensing mechanism |44. |4I'. for sensing the primary tapes. Accordingly, similar reference characters are applied thereto. The mechanism isshownmoreorlessdiagrammaticallyinl'ig. 1a and includes a plurality of uppelI sensing bars Ilia and lower cooperating sensing pins Illa, the latter being carried in an insulating block |1|a. The sensing pins mure normally urged upwardly into engagement with the sensing bars Ilia by means of coil springs (not shown) similar in function to the springs |12. The special account cards are formed of relatively thick cardboard and these cards are adapted to be manually inserted in position in the sensing device |4Ia. As a consequence. no advancing mechanism is required, nor is there any necessity for lowering the block |1|a to cause the pins to clear thecardwhen thecardisinsertedintoorremoved from the apparatus. If desired, the upper ends of the sensing pins may be rounded to provideacammingactionwhentheeardisinserted I into the apparatus. v

The decoder Referring now to Fig. 7. after the tapes l and |5| have been sensed by the apparatus shown in Figs. 10 and 11, such information as is not directly transferred electrically to the perforating device of Fig. 9 for immediate application to the tape |52 is decoded into the decimal system by means of a decoder ill. For the decoding of a single character, a combination of one or more of the four perforations of the code causes a piurality of electrical' circuits to be established. which in turn serve to close one or more of a series of electromagnets ill, labeled individually 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a, and hereinafter referred to as decoderin'put magnets. When these latterl electromagnets become closed, they in turn serve 4to close one of a series of electromagnets SI2, individually labeled 8b, 0b, 1b. 2b, 3b, 4b, Bb. 6b, 'Ib,

8b and 9b, hereinafter referred to as decoder output electromagnets. Although there are fifteen separate combinations of the decoder input electromagnets III that may be energized. only eleven of these combinations are employed. The decoder Ill is of the well-known Baudot type and a relatively brief description thereof is deemed to be sumcient in the present instance. The various output electromagnets Il! are adapted to be individually and selectively energized through a labyrinth system of Baudot type contacts. collectively designated at Cb, which are adapted to shift their positions upon energization of their respective decoder input electromasnets Ill and which, when shifted from one position to another, or when allowed to remain in their normal positions, as shown, serve to reroute current through the labyrinth circuit to a selected individual electromagnet of the series l2. Each of the decoder output electromagnets |82, except the magnet labeled 8b, is provided with a pair of contacts III. which contacts are normally open but are adapted to become closed upon energization of their respective magnets. The pairs of contacts lll have one terminal arranged in common as at |I4. while the other terminals thereof are grouped together and passed through a cable ill. The

vleading from a cable |81, and by means oi' a common wire |88. These electromagnets |8| are at times employed as intermediate relays in order that the sensing unit pins I 68 shall not be obliged to operate a device requiring heavy current, asv

for example, the perforator shown in Fig. 9. Pairs of contacts |89 associated with each of the electromagnets |8| have one terminal thereof led in common to a Wire |90 and the other terminal thereof led out through a cable |9|. Additional pairs of contacts |92 and |93, associated with each of the electromagnets |8I, have one terminal connected to the common wire |90, while the other terminals are led out through the cable |9| by means of a comi-non wire |94. The contacts |98 have terminals which are led out through the cable |9| by means of a common wire |95.

The coder The coder is designated generally at 200 and is best illustrated in Fig. 8. 'I'he object of the coder 200 is to translate a single current impulse into a combination of one or more of four current impulses, according to the particular telegraphic code previously described. Briefly, the function of the coder is precisely the reverse of that of the decoder |80 shown in Fig. '1. Current flowing through any one of the twelve wires comprising the cable 20| will cause a corresponding electromagnet 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d. 9d, 0d. d or Md to operate a bank of contacts associated with each of the above described electromagnets and will cause one or more of a series of wires 202, 203. 204 or 205 to become connected to a. common wire 206 upon selective energization of the electromagnets. Each electromagnet represents a character and each connects the aforementioned wires to the common wire in such a manner as to actuate the perforator of Fig. 9 and cause the same to perforate the tape to represent the telegraphic code character corresponding to the original character that was to be coded. in a manner that will be set forth presently. Each electromagnet, upon energization, also serves by operation of its respective bank of contacts to connect a pair of wires 201 and 208 to the common wire 20|:.- The current flowing in the eircuit thus closed when the Wires 201 and 208 are connected to the wire 206. serves to advance the tape which is being perforated under the control of the coder in much the same manner as the tapes |50 and |5| of Figs. l0 and 11 are advanced. utilizing a center drive holepunch magnet DH and a ratchet drive magnet D.

A wire 209 affords a common connection for the various magnets of the coding device and has interposed therein a normallv closed pair of contacts 339. the function ofwhich will be set forth hereinafter. It is evident that when the pair of conta-cts 33.9 become opened, vmagnetyscan be energized.

i The perforator in th'e'tapev such information as is directly translated from the tapes |50 and IBI. or as is relayed i tion of the apparatus.

14 to the ,coder and then translated to the perforator in the selected code.

The tape |52 passes beneatha die block 222 and is operated upon by means of a plurality of punches 223, 224,. 225 and 226, which are arranged in alignment in a direction transversely of the tape. Each of the various punches is adapted to be forced upwardly through the tape |52 and into the die block 222 when a respective electromagnet lc, 2c, 3c `or,4c is energized. A punch 221, operable upon energization of a solenoid DH, serves to apply the center drive hole perforations |80 to the tape. A pawl and ratchet driving assembly 233, similar to the mechanism |62, |63 of Fig. ll, serves to advance the tape |52 upon deenergization of its control electromagnet D, energization of this magnet merely serving to preset the ratchet mechanism. In order to prevent the tape |52 from being advanced While one or more of thegvarious punches are still protruding through the tape, the electromagnet D is normally maintained energized by the locking action of one or more of a `plurality of pairs of contacts 228, 229, 230, 23| or 232, which are adapted to become closedupon energization of their respective electromagnets 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c and DH. These pairs oi.' contacts are so adjusted that they open only when their respective punches.'

are fully clear of the tape 52. They are all connected together in parallel and the electromagnet D receives energizing current when one or more of these pairs of contacts are closed. When all of the above mentioned pairs o1' contacts are opened, the electromagnet D will become deenergized, thus advancing the'tape |52 one index point position. v

The perforator is adapted to be energized by means f of certain electrical circuits carried through a cable 234 (see Fig. 8) or it is adapted to become energized directly from the `coder input coils of Fig. 8. Certain timer contacts 22 and 4| (see also Fig. 1b) are associated with the perforator 220 and their operation will be explained hereinafter.

The `timing mechanism and its timing chart The operation of the machine as a whole and.

a rotarytimer drum 240, shown as a fragment in full lines at one point and also as a fragment in dotted lines at another pointv in this figure. 'I'he timerdrum '240 serves to open and close a plu- `-.rality of pairs of contacts in timed relationship,

thus forming` the basis for full automatic operaat two points, which projections upon rotation of the drum, engage a plurality of contacts arranged in groups or piles, and oneof which is none of the coder i illustrated at as being mounted directly above the drum in the path of movement of the projection 24|. Throughout the drawings the various pairs oi timer-controlled contacts are i1- lustrated and distinguished from' other nontimer-controlled contacts in precisely `the same manner as the `illustration of the pairof contacts l, i. e. each of these pairs of timer-controlled contacts on the drawings issupplied with'a small V-shaped finger-like projection extending from one of the terminals of the pairs of contacts. The time duration of closure with respect tothe rate The drum 240 has set' 

